Photo by Matt McNulty/Getty Images
Photo by Matt McNulty/Getty Images
Former Chelsea defender Jason Cundy actually believes former Blues midfielder Enzo Fernandez wouldn’t actually get in Xabi Alonso’s side, and he’s completely correct.
The midfield has been a real area of weakness for the Blues this season, with multiple different partnerships being used to little success.
With Fernandez’s deadline day exit to Manchester City, Chelsea were left with very little time to actually sign a replacement, with a deal to bring in Lamine Camara falling through in the final moments.
One Chelsea fan believes that it has been a terrible start to the season and that a shock relegation is on the cards if things don’t improve 😱 What do you make of that?
Despite the clear weaknesses in the current Blues squad, Cundy told Football London that he believes Fernandez would not get into the best Chelsea side now, due to the demands of playing in Alonso’s system.
He said: “Enzo [Fernandez] in this shape, I couldn’t find a place for him in this team. So I understand why [Chelsea] decided to move him on, and why he wanted to leave.
“There’s a real gap in there. I think you need to go for someone like Enzo with a little bit more pace, a little bit more about him, a bit more energy, a bit more bite. Those players in general are harder to find.
“In a 3-4-3, I think we need a high-energy, physical player that can get around the pitch. Enzo has got a lot of qualities, but he can’t get around the pitch.”
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While it is hard to believe, Cundy is speaking a lot of sense. Many people are forgetting just how much the Blues are missing Moises Caicedo.
When he returns after the international break, the Ecuador international will look as if he is doing the work of two midfielders at once.
Partnering him with Romeo Lavia would allow Chelsea the ability to continue to move the ball forwards quickly, getting their dangerous trio up top involved in the game.
In truth, the front three of Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers and Joao Pedro have papered over a lot of cracks in the early stages of the season with their goal involvements, but it is clear they are one of the best attacking forces in world football.
Ultimately, getting them the ball is going to be the key for the Blues, and Lavia is the best-placed other midfielder to help with this.
Caicedo is a non-negotiable in the starting side, which then does open the question as to whether Fernandez would make it into the side.
He is currently enjoying a strong start to life under Enzo Maresca at Manchester City. There is no getting away from that.
However, Alonso’s Chelsea play very differently to how Maresca’s sides do, and the Argentine would struggle for minutes when asked to do the role of either Caicedo or Lavia better than them.